Vehicle body



.E. H. BELDEN VEHICLE} BODY June 3% M25.

4 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26,1920

INVENTCR. Edward Hbelden June 30, 1925.

wmgm H. BELDEN VEHICLE BODY Filed Aug. 26. 1920 T WT" BIL/gm 6' ATTORNFW 4 SheetS Sheei 4' opposite side permitting PaEeriiie-el dime fill EDWARD H. BELDEI I, SF TQLEDU, EH10; A.

SSI-G NQR TC THE WILLYS-GVERLAND C9314:-

PAHY, 0F 'lOlJEDG, (331119, A. GUBJPGRATIOII OF OHIO.

VEHICLE ZZGDY.

Application. filed Alugest To all whom 2'2; may oomem Be ii; known that. l, EEDW'ARD Beiiomi,

citizen of the United States, residingel; To

ledo, in the eouniy of Lucas, Stole of Ohio ml is some wronged to ooesheuel'led I oo'zivereihle into e A. flu-thee o e l elf invention is to provide e we: loody heme from; drzvei' s :1 ."uleo soot normolly affording .i o. no persons, one portion of divided seet being" fixed and .Zhe otliei udej for ustment into alignment with sold fso it drive/f5 seat to form a continuation ehereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide e.- vehiole body having e front see-- liionzzry seat will; e compartment in the seal" ithel'eof end a reef seat normally in alignment *1- compartment 1 with said front soul, so ion ihezeo'f.

Aeothez object of the 111 ensiou Lo pro viole a vehicle body having a ll driver's seat Wish 2: sloii'egze,oompmrt nene in hhe rein," lheeeof of less Width than said drivers seal; and. e "two passenger comprising u relatively portion osliendiug from said. compartment into alignment with said front drivers seat and uv movable portion normelly coextensive thoieivilli and movable into" alignment with the drivers seat to form a comfiinuution thereof.

A further ohjeot of invention is be provide a vel ilizle body u front and a, rear seat adep to he. swung into alignment Willi the front seat, said reel" seat lltll llig releasable supporlziiig .uieees at one side thereof and e pivotal connection at the "un sesi; lo he swung into and oul; of frontseat, suul'mleasei, being movable to ro ision. only by swinging the seat e110- it pivoeel manhoo- 1920-. eerie! No. 08,186.

tion. to a predetermined position with, res not to the body.

Further oheets of the invention relate to the details or construction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements disclosed herein although it is to he understood that the invention is moi, limited fie the particular construction shown but contemplates broadly any arran ement for attaining the desired end as Well es all forms of 'oiistruclion falling within the scope of the eppeeded. claims. i

A construction ooiistieuoing one embodiment of the inventioii is illustrated in the aeeo-mpen ing drawing forming a part of this speoii'oe-tionv in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating the normal seating errangemeut of the vehicle as it appears When adapted to carry three persons.

Figure H is a fragmentary View in perspective with the rear seat moved. into alignment with the front seat whereby a. single and continuous seat is afforded for seeommodating two persons.

lfii is ill is a sectional plan with the seats shown in position to seat three persons.

lf'iguee IV is e sectional plan with the SCfliIS shown in position to seat two persons.

Figure V is e fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line VV of Figure 111 with llie upholstery removed from the seat frames.

Figure Vli is an enlar ed detailed lan of one of the floor plates shown in Figure V or receiving the brackets adapted for sup porting the front side of the moveble sent.

Figure VII is a fragmentary sectional elevation Hilton on line VIE-VII of Figure IV with she upholstery omitted from the seat frames. 1

l igui'e Vill is an enlarged fi'ugmentzu'y msverse sectional elevation through the body of the vehicle with the adjustable seat frame in elevated position as it; will appear when being: moved from the position shown in Figure V to that shown in Figure VII,

l ui'e 1X. is an enlarged detailed elevaim of one of the supporting brackets for the ed f'usleble seat and.

"me E is e s etional View taken on line 1119M; of Figure IX.

Likereference ehamctei's refer to similar and described herein I have illustrated an improved seating arrangement for vehicles,

such as automobiles andthe like, and while the invention is specifically adapted for automobiles of the ooup and roadster type,

- it will be understood that such an arrange ment may be used with other types of vehicles as well.

Referring to'the drawings 10 represents an automobile body constructed in any approved or preferred manner. Located within the body opposite the side door opening 11 is a front or drivers seat 12 which is preferably stationary but which may be made adjustable if desired.

An adjustable seat 13, normally rearward of the seat 12, is adapted to be moved from the position shown in Figure III to that shown in Figure IV when it is desired to convert the automobile from a three to a two passenger vehicle. At the left of the seat 13 when the latter is in the position shownjn Figure III is a fixed upholstered extension therefor which --lies between the seat 13 and the compartment 14 in rear of the seat 12 as indicated in Figure III. The extension for the seat 13 preferably comprises an upholstered unit or'units conforming in contour to the inner end of the seat 13, both as regards to the seat proper and the back therefor, said extension comprising the horizontally disposed portion 15 and the upstanding back portion 16 as indicated in Figures I and III. The seats .12 and 13 are provided respectively with the upholstered backs 17 and 18 and when the movable seat 13 is brought into the position shown in Figures II and IV the back of the two seats and the cushions as well are perfectly aligned and form, in appearance, it single and continuous upholstered seat capable of seating two persons. The stationary upholstered portions 15 and 16 of the seat 13 are placed adjacent the compartment 14 and may be secured to the wall 19 thereof, which is also preferably upholstered, and which extends slightly above the cushion oi the seat 13 as indicated in Figure I. The top bl the compartment 14, which is provided with a hinged or removable upholstored cover, may serve us an arm rest for the person occupying the inner portion of the sent 13 when the seats are arranged in the position shown in Figure III. It will be noted that the adjustable seat 13 is wider than the dri'vcrs seat 12 and that when in the position shown in Figure III the adjustable and stationary portions of the seat will afford suflicient room to accommodate two persons while the driver occupying the front seat 12 will likewise have ample room with the seats arranged in either of the po ea ers sitions shown in. Figures III and IV. The body is preferably upholstered in rear of the seat 13 as indicated at 20 as is also the entire back portion of the seat 13 and when the latter is moved to the position shown in Figure IV an upholstered compartment 21 is formed for storing suit cases or other articles as desired and said compartment may also be utilized for carrying a third passenger, by placing a small chair or stool therein. The frames for the upholstery of the front and rear seats are best illustrated in Figures V, VII and VIII and in the case of the front seat the frame. is preferably permanently connected with the body of the car and is supported upon the floor 22 thereof and comprises generally the inclined base 23 beneath which extend the front and side plates 24 and 24: respectively, while the back comprises the upwardly extending and rearwardly inclined side piece 25 connected with the outer side piece 26 by means of the cross rail 27 as shown in Figure V.

The frame for supporting the upholstered unit .or-units 15 and 16 is clearly indicated in Figure VII and preferably comprises the inclined base 28 from which'extends upwardly the back 29 upon which is mounted the forwardly extending brace 30.

The storage compartment 14 preferably comprises an upholstered box formed of transversely and' longitudinally running boards 31, suitably connected at their corners and upon which is superimposed a frame for su porting the hinged cover of the box, the iiame comprising the side and end rails 32 and 33 respectively. Upholstery of any suitable or preferred kind may be used for covering the above described frames and storage compartment walls, either in the form of detachable units such as the seat cushions, or if preferred, the upholstery maybe permanently connected with said parts.

The frame for supporting the upholstery of the adjustable seat, 13 comprises a central upright member 34 and the inner and outer side plates 35 and 36 respectively, which are connected by a top rail 37 as indicatcd in Figure VIII. The members 34, 35 and :36 extend upwardly from the base of the frame and are connected therewith in any suitable manner, said base frame being made up of plurality of suitable sections of material, as indicatedat 37, 38 and 39, which are preferably glued or otherwise, secured together and which may be connected by the transverse frame members 40, all of which are supported by the front and side base rails 41. and 4:2 respectively, said base rails. being connected at their corners by a metal bracket 43 of: triangular construction which forms a supporting leg for the seat base, said bracket being secured to said frame members preferably by means of screws as indieeieel oi; ike in Figure VH. A metallic bend l extends eroirncl the outer edge of she seer frame lmse so reeeive and retain she eushion in position thereon. The or legs &3 are provided Wlill extensions 4-6 on lower extremities, seicl exlensions l provided with enlarged ends all W through the ope-rings in the floor 'or socket plates which are suitably anchored the recesses for-meal. in the floor of 'lzhe body as ndice arl in Figure VII, said enlarged ends l? engaging the underside of the seal-Lei; pleie to prevent the raising of the front end of the seat whe said seal? is in she position shown in Figures V and ill. lYhen. the movable seat, is in either posilaien of sdinsiineni, the lower enliirged ends the bi ltie :ll resi upon the floor 1 recesses covby the l9 it understood ihs the reduced poi-lions 0i she bIEILCkQlLS lie Within the mar ow portions of she slots &8 when ihe sears in eiibher of said normal posiiions of ailjnsibmenifeml shill; upward ll'lUYP-lnllli of ihe front end the semi is thereby prerenierl. Arlzvrent the back side of the base of the ailjuseehle see is a, frame or suitable eonneeiion 5i piroied at its opp0sie sides to the brackets 5:3 and 53 which are res eciiively connected with the adjustalile sea-l; and floor of the vehicle as indicated in El re illlllr} 51 forms 2i pivolel lin Conner m between the floor and rear encl of he adjusts lies in; h

ori u when ss so poitions it is i ,e Lhe front enil thereof, as thermal-greriimnnities 4-? olt' the legs 13 serve to m'ewnt upward onwenient of the conferring: i'zh the unilor sides of and said legs are releasable rear of the .i'ezit has been to bring); the pivotal link or A in substantially a. vertical poeiioti. r io sueh pom? as will permit the enh rs "lion l7 oliihe legs to i'eglsfer with ow; was if?) in the plate '19, in? xii-h "1118 s legs may be released from said seekers permit the sen-E" in he moved I'QfilWHl'illY or iiorwziriilly as" the (use may be inio (lCSiZWl p Hill of nijijusiinenf.

seriomi herein is admirably wisp io 1"ul ll primarily seat: 5 will .he V "5 v i I oiirieismisl various changes lorm,

n Znor details of consirnoto Without departing the invention as uleleims.

proportion sion Bill) be from she pressed 2n l Cilllll'i a I e iroirfi seat, a

h are to be inserted seal movable into and out of alignment with the front seat, and 11V storzige compartment in rear of the from having 21 side panel extending upwardly at the left of the rear seal; to forlnone end thereof.

ln avehicle body; a front seat, a rear seat adapted to swing into and out of alignment with the front sees a storage eompartwent; in rear of the front seal; and. an extension for said rear sent at the inner end thereof adjacent said swrege eonipsrtniens.

3. ln a vehicle body, a from; seat, is storage coinpiirlnient in the rear thereof of less wiclih than said from; sea and a seeomi seal in rear of said front se 5 eonapri 1, fixed portion extending from said eom lnrtnzent 0 a point snbstsn'rii-illy in line with the inner side of said from: and inevoble portion .normelhl co-exi ersive wifah seicl fixed port-ion and aclsplzezl moved into alignment with saio irons e form an extension thereof.

4. in a vehicle hotly, a single from: a rear seat, and n transverse frame having iwo points of connection with saiol rear and two points Connection with body which permit said rear to he swung into and out of alignment with Lhe from seai, and the said rear liS-Sillg adapted to form a continuous "aligned seat wish the said from: seal; across she fell Wieiih of she hocly,

5. In a vehicle body, as single irons seat, a rear sear, irons ersely extending beneath the rear some position, the said rear seal; being adapted to form a continuous aligned sentwmi ihe saicl from seat across the full widih of the body.

In a vehicle body, ii single front seat, :1 rear sent, a srsnsversely ext siding; beneaih the rear seat pivoted at its ogaposite ends to said body and to said rear sea to permit the luff/er to swing from a lQil seeting position to a front seating position in alignment with the front sees, and means independent of said frame for supporting and securing said rear seat iothe floor of the body in either of its positions of zuljnstmeni.

vehicle body, a front seat, is rear 7 ransversely exjending frame" heneui'h :ne rear seat pivoted at its opposiive *nds to said body and is Hillll T9111. 5

rmit ihe lzrtter to he swung: into o Mill ' seat is in either of its positions of adjustment whereby said seat is firmly held against accidental displacement.

10. In a vehicle body, a drivers seat, an adjustable seat movable into and out of alignment with said drivers seat, late members secured to the floor of the ody having slots with enlargements at one end formed therein, and supporting members depending from said adjustable seat, the extremities of which are enlarged insertable through saidenlargements to engage the underside of the plate members at said slots whereby said seat is held against accidental displacement in either or its positions of adjustment. I I

11. In a vehicle body, a drivere seat, a movable seat adjustable into and out of alignmentwith said drivers seat, legs depending from said movable seat, and means for securely anchoring the lower extremities of said legs upon the floor of the body in either position of adjustment of said movable mat.

12. In a vehicle body, a drivers seat, a movable seat adjustable into and out of alignment with. said drivers seat, said movable seat having front and side supporting rails, brackets forming legs for said movable seat and serving to connect said front and side rails, and means adapted to anchor said legs to the floor of the vehicle yvhen said movableseat is in different pos tions of adjustment. j

13. In a vehicle body, a relatively fixed seat, a movable seat, a pivoted member connecting-said movable seat with the body and permitting it to swing into and out of all nment with the fixed seat, and releasable means serving to connect said movable seat with the body, said means being releasable only after said seat has been swung out of normal position.

14. In a vehicle body, a relatively fixed seat, a movable seatadapted to be swung into and out of alignment with said fixed seat, and releasable means connected with the body for supporting said movable seat, said means being releasable only after said movable seat has been swung out of normal position.

seat, a movable seat adapted 15. In a. vehicle body, a relatively fined to be swung into and out of alignment with said fixed seat, a pivoted connection between the mow able seat and floor of the vehicle arranged to lie substantially in a horizontal positlon adjacent the floor when said movable seat is in either of its normal positions of adjustment, and a releasable connection be tween said movable-seat and said body capable of being released only after said movable seat has beensealing out of normal position.

16. In a vehicle body, a relatively fixed seat, a movable Seat adapted to be swung into and out of alignment with. said fixed seat, and a releasable member connecting said movable seat with the body, said member being releasable only by swinging the movable seat out of normal position.

17. In a vehicle body, a. relatively fixed seat, a. movable seat, a member having one end pivoted upon the body and the other pivotally connected with said movable seat adjacent the back side thereof and permitting the movable seat to be swung into andout of alignment with said fixed seat, and

releasable means connecting the front of' said movable seat with'the body, said means being brought to release position only by raising the rear of said movable seat.

18. In a vehicle body, a relatively fixed seat, a movable seat, a member having one end pivoted upon the body and the other pivotally connected with said movable seat adjacent one side thereof and permitting the movable seat to be swung into and out of alignment with said fixed seat, a support ing leg at the opposite side of said movable seat, andmeans connecting said leg with said body and permitting it to be released only by swinging said movable seat out of normal position.

19. In a vehicle adapted to seat a plu- PEIlby. of persons, a drivers seat, a narrow seat section rearward of said drivers seat, and means for changing the normal seating capacity of said vehicle comprising a movable seat section, said section in one position forming a continuation of said narrow seat section, and in another position forming a continuation of said drivers seat.

20. "In a'vehicle, a stationary front seat, a narrow stationary section contiguous to and rearward of said front seat, and a movable seat adapted in one position to form a continuation of said narrow seat section, and in another position to form a continuation of said front seat whereby saidl vehicle is adapted to provide seating accomnimlation respectively for three or two persons.

21. In a vehicle, a shiftable seat having a forward and rearward seating position, means pivoted to said vehicle and to the rear portion of said seat for guiding the l same, means 'for locking downv the front forward portion of said seat for preventing 10 portion of said seat when in either of its two upward movement of the front. of said seat positions, and releasable by an upward when in either of its two positions, said movement of the rear of said seat. means being automatically released by an 5 22. In a vehicle, a shiftable seat having upward movement of the rear of said seat.

a forward and rearward seatin position, a In testimony whereof I efiix my sigma; bracket pivotally connecting t 9 rear p01": ture. ,H y it tion of said seat to said vehicle, interloeking means carried by said vehicle and the EDWARD H. BELDEN. 

